New safety measures are finally being drafted after a series of animal attacks occurred at the now-infamous Badaling Wildlife Park, Beijing Youth Dailyreports. The rules will apply to all zoos and wildlife parks in the capital.
According to the draft, animals and visitors should remain separated at all times. The plan is to install barriers – such as fences, moats and translucent walls – to ensure the safety of visitors. Beijing’s zoos and wildlife parks will also be required to post clear and specific safety signs including phone numbers tourists can call if they need assistance.
The new rules were drafted and posted on the municipal government’s website on Friday, the same day a man was bitten by a black bear at Badaling Wildlife Park.
The man, surnamed Chen, was visiting the park's safari-style exhibit when the incident occurred. Chen intentionally ignored the rules and cracked his car window to feed a black bear. According to Chen, he wanted a friend to take a photo of him feeding the bear. However, when Chen tried to roll the window back up something went wrong and it rolled down instead. The bear then leaned into the window and bit Chen on the left arm.
Following the attack, the Yanqing District tourism commission ordered the park to improve safety awareness, limit the number of visitors and update surveillance and security.
The latest incident is just one of many that has taken place at the park in the past couple years. Last year, a tiger attack at the park left one woman dead and one other severely injured after the two exited their vehicle in the Siberian tiger exhibit. In February of this year, a group of bears surrounded a vehicle and tried to paw their way inside through an open window. And just last month a driver had a close encounter with a bear after he attempted to feed it.
[Image via BBC]
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